You know your partner best of all—the childhood friends, the favorite pet, that one weird topping they always add to their sandwich. … We get it! In the Jeopardy of your partner’s life, you’re the undisputed champion. So given this level of expertise, you need a set of unique topics to talk about with your partner: a set of topics specifically for two people who know each other so well. The topics allow you to delve past small talk (see Fire Up Those Conversation Skills With 100+ Conversation Starters for our take on introductory questions for all sorts of situations) and create a more meaningful connection.
Psychologists do recommend couples explore deeper topics together in order to maintain and improve upon the friendship and relationship. In fact, some studies show that these types of meaningful conversations are associated with a higher sense of well-being when compared to small talk.
So try a few of these topics with a partner and get closer!
1. Talk about your family and childhood.
- Who’s the person in your family that you admire most?
- Who’s the person in your family you feel you can be the most honest with?
- What was your favorite part of growing up in your family?
- If you could change one thing about how you were raised, what would it be?
- Which person had the biggest impact on you during your childhood?
- What’s a family tradition you have that you want to pass on to your own kids?
2. Talk about your love languages and how you show affection.
- What’s one thing that makes you feel truly cared for?
- What’s your favorite way to communicate love?
- How does your family express love and affection?
- What’s one thing you wish I did differently?
- What’s something I do that makes you feel special?
- Tell me about your first heartbreak.
- Tell me about the first time you loved someone outside of your family.
3. Ask about each other’s mental health.
- What’s been the lowest and highest points for you in the past year?
- What’s challenging you right now?
- What do you feel excited about?
- What do you feel worried about?
- What is one thing I can do to support you right now?
- What’s your favorite way to cope with stress?
4. Ask each other about the future.
- What’s one thing you want to be recognized for?
- Where do you see yourself one year from now?
- What does your ideal family look like?
- Where is the place you most want to travel?
- What do you want the most out of life?
- What’s one goal we can work on accomplishing together?
